The rushing performance of Shonn Greene's career against Indianapolis on Sunday has earned the Jets' fourth-year tailback a spot as one of the three finalists in this week's FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week voting.
Greene posted career highs of 32 carries and 161 yards and tied the franchise record with three rushing touchdowns in showing the Jets the way to their 35-9 victory over the Colts.
His 161 yards were the most in his career since he erupted for 144 yards in Game 7 of his rookie season in 2009 at Oakland, and the most by a Jets back since Thomas Jones set the franchise record with 210 rushing yards the week before that '09 game against Buffalo.
Greene's TDs, on runs of 10, 4 and 2 yards, equaled his personal best set at Washington last season and tied the franchise mark for most rushing TDs in a game accomplished 11 times previously. His 21-yard run in the first quarter was his longest of the season, and his four 10-yards-plus runs also equaled a career game high.
The last time a Jets back had more than Greene's 32 carries was Curtis Martin with 34 carries at New England in 2000, and the last time a Jet had more than Greene's nine first downs in a game was Jones with 11 first downs vs. St. Louis in 2008.
"It was nice to put points up on the board and that's what we want to do," Greene said, deflecting the focus off of his rushing numbers. "We want to execute, stay on the field, keep our defense fresh and put points on the board."
But his teammates put the spotlight back on No. 23.
"Shonn did a a really great job just going out there and making plays," tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson said. "As an offensive line, you're trying to do everything you can to help him, and he did it. He made it look easy."
Greene's competition for this week's FedEx Ground award are Ahmad Bradshaw, who had 116 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries in the Giants' 26-3 win at San Francisco, and C.J. Spiller, who totaled 88 yards and a TD on 12 carries in the Bills' OT win at Arizona.
Fans can vote for this award at NFL.com/FedEx through Friday at 3 p.m. ET. The winner will be announced Friday evening on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" and on nfl.com.
